Published at 22nd of August 2019 1:07 pm

Volume 23, Chapter 3: Beauty Becomes Her

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

Certain occasions excepted, Elfaria always carried herself in a graceful and smart manner. However, with her eccentric personality, she didn’t demand the same from others, nor did she demand to be treated like an empress. In fact, she preferred casual situations over being treated like royalty.

“Theia-mama, we have sweet chestnuts. Do you want some?” Sanae asked.

“What are sweet chestnuts?”

“Um, they’re like sweet nuts that have been toasted… I think,” Maki answered.

“That sounds fun. Please let me try some.”

“Okay, hang on a sec.”

With too much free time on her hands, Elfaria had come to visit room 106 where she found Sanae and Yurika watching a recorded anime, and Maki staring into her account book. The three girls welcomed Elfaria’s surprise visit and had gotten out tea and snacks. Unfortunately, none of them had the proper manners expected when dealing with someone of the upper class, and only Maki really knew how to speak to her superiors. It was an understatement to say that their treatment of Elfaria was lacking, but because of her quirks, she wasn’t irritated or offended in the slightest. Rather, she was pleased that she was being treated as their friend’s mother.

“Auuugh… Hrmm…”

“Yurika, want me to take over making the tea?”

“Really?! Please do, Maki-chan!”

“You prepare a tray for the sweets and a towel to wipe our hands with.”

“Okay, got it!”

Elfaria happily watched over the three girls working together to fix the refreshments. Luckily, things were proceeding well enough. Manners aside, they were barely above the passing grade as girls of age.

But once everything was ready, all four of them sat down around the table and began chatting. It was a leisurely Saturday afternoon—anime and bookkeeping could wait until later. The three girls were much more interested in their unusual guest, Elfaria.

Crack!

“So why are you here today, Theia-mama?” Sanae got straight to the point as she cracked open the chestnut in her hands.

Even if she was lacking in etiquette, Sanae knew who Elfaria was and what position she held. Sanae wanted to make sure her visit wasn’t over something urgent. Seeing the worried expression on Sanae’s face, Elfaria gently smiled at her.

“I don’t have any specific business… I suppose you could say I’m here to see how Theia is doing. It’s Saturday today, so there’s no rush for anything, right?”

“Hmm, I see… Hom!”

Hearing that, Sanae threw the freshly peeled chestnut into her mouth and smiled too. It was partly a sign of relief, but it was also because the chestnut tasted good.

Crack!

“Oh, they crack open easier than I thought,” Elfaria commented in mild surprise.

“But if you’re clumsy, that happens…” Sanae said, indicating Yurika.

“Waaah… I broke the nut again…”

“Here, Yurika. Eat this,” Maki offered.

“Thank youuu…”

“My, my… Heehee,” Elfaria giggled.

After observing Sanae, Elfaria cracked open her nut and—still mimicking Sanae—popped it in her mouth. When she did, the delicate sweetness and unique flavor spread across her tongue.

“Oh, this is quite delicious.”

“Right?”

“They’re also pleasantly fragrant.”

“Eat up! We can always get more later!”

“Thank you, Sanae-san.”

Sanae was overjoyed that Elfaria liked the same thing she did. It was almost like Elfaria was complimenting her and not the food. In high spirits, she urged Elfaria to have more. Seeing her like that, Elfaria was reminded of a much younger Theia.

They grow up so fast…

Theia rarely behaved like a child now; she had matured into a splendid princess. Really, it made Elfaria feel a little lonely, but she was still able to catch a glimpse of a more childlike Theia on occasion in room 106. It very well may have been part of the reason she decided to pay them a weekend visit.

“Now that you mention it, where did Theia-chan and the others go?” asked Yurika.

After finally getting a whole nut in her mouth, Yurika stopped crying.

Crack!

But her shoulders drooped once more as she crushed the next nut along with the shell yet again. Maki flipped open her notebook as she smiled wryly at Yurika.

“Today… Theia-san and Ruth-san are visiting the drama club.”

“Huh? I thought Theia was done with plays,” rejoined Sanae.

“It seems she’s giving them some advice. She is the original playwright, after all.”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

“Could you mean ‘The Blue Knight and the Silver Princess’?!”

Elfaria’s eyes lit up. She had already heard Theia had written a play about the legend of the Blue Knight, but as a Forthorthian, it was a big deal to her.

“Yes. Last year there was a scriptwriting competition, and Theia-chan’s story about the Blue Knight won,” Yurika explained.

“Heehee! That girl knows more than anyone about the legend of the Blue Knight, after all… Although, strictly speaking, that might have been an unfair way of winning.”

Elfaria smirked. Theia’s victory had been in large part due to the people of Earth being unfamiliar with the story of the Blue Knight. If the competition had taken place in Forthorthe, it might have played out quite differently. But still, she was proud that Theia had won. Ultimately, her sour grin sweetened into the smile of a proud mother.

“Ooohh…”

Yurika was charmed by Elfaria’s smile. She had exquisite, womanly features, refreshing eyes, and softly curved lips. Even to other women, Elfaria was quite beautiful. She looked to be in her mid-twenties, despite the surprising fact that she was a mother. That’s right. Elfaria was Theia’s mother. Not her sister.

“What’s the matter, Yurika-san?” Elfaria asked when she noticed Yurika’s odd behavior.

“Ah, u-um…” Yurika snapped out of it. Flustered, she waved her hands and explained herself, “Um… I was just thinking that it’s amazing how beautiful you are, Elfaria-san…”

“Ah, I think so too! Theia-mama looks so young and beautiful!”

“I agree. I want to hear all your secrets on how stay looking like that,” Maki added.

Sanae’s mother also looked young for her age, but she didn’t compare to Elfaria. Sanae couldn’t help being curious about her secret. Maki simply wanted to stay beautiful. But their reasons aside, all three girls were interested in Elfaria’s methods.

“Heehee… Really, it’s less about me and more about Forthorthe. Our technology is quite advanced.”

Since Elfaria could understand the girls’ curiosity, she told them the truth. Keeping a secret like that seemed unfair.

“Do you mean plastic surgery?” Sanae asked.

It was a logical conclusion as an earthling. Where Sanae was from, the best way to retain a youthful appearance was cosmetic surgery. She was also oblivious to the fact that what she was asking could be considered quite disrespectful. But Elfaria didn’t get angry. She just smiled and shook her head.

“No, not that. Think of it this way. I’m the empress, so I can’t fall ill, right?”

“Yeah. You can’t have your leader out of commission.”

“That’s why the people around me do their best to take care of me. This is part of that result.”

Including the colonized planets, the Holy Forthorthe Galactic Empire boasted a population of tens of billions. Having the empress at the center of such an empire fall ill would only invite tragedy, so Elfaria’s health was always a top priority. Her retinue did everything in their power to care for her health, and subsequently, her youthful, stunning appearance was a side effect of trying to keep the nation stable.

“Since Forthorthe is so advanced, that effect might be even more pronounced,” Maki commented.

Her presumption was correct. There was no denying the connection between youth and health. There was also a clear difference between the technology of Earth and Forthorthe. It only made sense that Forthorthe had more sophisticated anti-aging techniques. Elfaria didn’t just look young—she literally was.

“Being important sure must be hard… Can you even play hooky with people watching after you like that?”

“You can’t. People see through your lies almost immediately.”

Elfaria had an animated personality. That in conjunction with her youthful energy often stirred up the urge to go out and play whenever she was in her office. But because of Forthorthe’s advanced science, she couldn’t lie her way out of anything with the medical staff. She hardly had any rest from her royal duties.

“I dunno if I’d make it without being able to play hooky.”

“You sure make Satomi-kun look after you, Yurika,” Maki replied.

“Yeah, I can always count on him.”

“You don’t have any intention of becoming independent, do you?” Sanae shot her a sidelong glance.

Elfaria intensely watched the three girls cheerfully chatting away. The scene reminded her of when she was able to live as she pleased. It was such a precious age.

“What’s the matter, Theia-mama?”

“It’s nothing. I’m just a little envious of you girls. Right now you’re experiencing something I had to leave behind a long time ago.”

Elfaria’s words were sincere, but they were tinged with something dark. Sensitive to the feelings of others, Sanae could clearly sense her loneliness. It wasn’t something she could just ignore.

“Then let’s go even further.”

“Huh?”

Elfaria’s eyes opened wide. She knew that Sanae was trying to be considerate, but she didn’t know what she was getting at.

“Let’s make you look even younger and raise a fuss. You have plenty of free time since you’re here, right?”

“Sanae-san…”

Elfaria was deeply touched. Sanae’s suggestion made her very happy, but it presented a big problem.

“Thank you, Sanae-san. But… there’s a limit even to Forthorthe’s technology. It will be difficult for me to become even younger.”

No matter how lovely of an idea it was, there was practically no way of making it a reality. And despite the way she looked, there was no helping her mental age.

Elfaria had already given up.

“Hoho, we can’t have you underestimating us, Theia-mama!”

Sanae, on the other hand, remained confident. Elfaria had a good point, but it just so happened that Sanae had the means to overcome the problem.

“With the power of us three magical girls, rejuvenating you by a couple of years will be a piece of cake!”

Sanae had psychic powers, while Maki and Yurika had magic. If the three of them worked together, even if they couldn’t keep someone eternally young, Sanae was sure that they could reclaim whatever Elfaria had left behind in the past.

However, as an archwizard of the Magical Kingdom of Folsaria, Yurika had a duty to prevent such personal uses of magic. That’s why she had no choice but to object to Sanae’s idea.

“You can’t, Sanae-chan! Magic shouldn’t be used lightly!”

Rainbow Heart’s commandments were absolute. If Yurika used magic for herself without proper grounds, she would be fired and left with a mountain of debts. That was a possibility she had to avoid at all costs.

“Then it’ll just be me and Maki.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“But Yurika, this might not be as personal of a use as you think,” interjected Maki.

Maki had a compromise to offer between Sanae and Yurika. From her point of view, they still might be able to get Yurika on board.

“Huh? What do you mean, Maki-chan?”

“Well, it’s almost certain that Darkness Rainbow will make a move in Forthorthe.”

After the showdown in Folsaria, the agents of Darkness Rainbow had vanished. Considering that Maya and Elexis had vanished too, it was likely that they had gone to Forthorthe. In other words, chances were incredibly high that Darkness Rainbow would be involved in future incidents in Forthorthe. By extension, that meant that Elfaria was potentially in magical danger.

“In order to keep her safe, we’ll need to stay by her side and protect her with magic, right?”

“That’s… I think that’s probably true,” Yurika conceded.

If an attack from Darkness Rainbow was looming, Elfaria would need magical protection. Even Yurika could appreciate that.

“But we can’t always be with her, right?”

“That’s probably true too.”

The only ones with enough mana to oppose Darkness Rainbow were the seven archwizards of Rainbow Heart. And since they need as many magical girls as possible to protect Earth and Folsaria, only one or two at most would be sent to Elfaria’s aid. They would be stuck guarding her non-stop. It would be risky business.

“So don’t you think it would be a good idea to rejuvenate Elfaria-san and enhance her physical strength?”

Rejuvenation wouldn’t just mean regaining her beauty. It would also mean restoring her

youthful strength and vigor, and thereby reduce any potential danger she might be in by increasing her ability to defend herself. Elfaria would become faster and tougher, as well as have more stamina. Combined with some standard defensive spells, it would make the lack of manpower far less of an issue.

“That’s…”

But Yurika was still hesitating. There was indeed logic to what Maki was saying. With the threat of Darkness Rainbow on the horizon, rejuvenating Elfaria might not be considered a personal use of magic. Even so, it felt duplicitous to her and she was unable to commit.

Yurika was normally rather negligent, but she couldn’t look the other way when it came to her duties as a magical girl. Unexpectedly enough, it was Sanae that convinced her to change her mind.

“Hey, Yurika, Rainbow Heart was originally a group of magicians from Forthorthe, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“Then why can’t you use magic on the empress?”

“Uh…”

Folsaria and Rainbow Heart descended from the court magicians of Forthorthe. In other words, protecting the empress and fulfilling her wishes should still be part of their mission. It was only in separating from Forthorthe that they restricted themselves with their commandments in order to keep themselves from doing anything unnecessary. Therefore, morally speaking, there was nothing improper about using magic to protect Elfaria even now.

“Okay. If the goal is to restore her vitality rather than her youth, I guess it’s fine.”

Yurika figured it would be fine if Elfaria became younger as a result of measures to protect her.

“Good, good. That’s more like it.”

Sanae was satisfied with Yurika’s decision. She smiled and repeatedly nodded with unwarranted confidence. However, Elfaria’s impression was slightly different as she watched all of this unfold.

“I have no intention of making you obey Forthorthe.”

Rainbow Heart was under Forthorthe’s rule over two thousand years ago—which was still a couple of hundred years ago in Rainbow Heart’s perception of time. Demanding that they work for the empress now was surely going too far. Elfaria couldn’t see it any other way.

“The truth is that I just want Theia-chan’s mother to be healthy. But I need a proper reason or I’ll get in trouble.”

“You Rainbow Heart girls are really inconvenient when it comes to things like this…” Maki sighed.

“Whatever! Let’s begin the great Theia-mama rejuvenation plan!” Sanae shouted.

In the end, the girls were all motivated by their affection for Elfaria. Elfaria couldn’t reject

such earnest goodwill. She smiled modestly and chased the unpleasant thoughts from her mind as she decided to spend a little time with these young girls.

The plan to rejuvenate Elfaria had two stages, one using psychic power and one using magic. They decided to start with magic since it would take some time to prepare.

The mana required to rejuvenate someone increased exponentially the more years there were to revert. Correcting the genetic wear and tear of a single year was a simple enough affair, but refreshing someone by ten years would take far more than just ten times the mana. There was also a limit to Yurika and Maki’s mana reserves. Moreover, they couldn’t use major spells that required sacrifices, so their magic naturally fell on the smaller scale of things.

Everything considered, Yurika and Maki decided to use a catalyst from a plant or mineral —something comparatively easy to acquire. Enough of the right kind of catalyst would make the spell easier to maintain, meaning they could keep it up indefinitely. In exchange, the effect would weaken and Elfaria would only rejuvenate by two or three years. But since they still had Sanae’s psychic powers, they didn’t need to reach their goal with just magic.

“It says here that they grow wild on the side of this mountain.”

Sanae, Yurika, Maki, and Elfaria had come to the Magical Kingdom of Folsaria. Since they had visited several times before to help stabilize the country, they could freely use the magical passage that connected Kisshouharukaze City and Folsaria. After coming out on the other side, Yurika was guiding the party. Their goal was the petals of a particular plant, the only spell component that they didn’t already have stored.

“Hey, Yurika,” Sanae prodded.

“What?”

“You’re not lost, are you?”

“I’m not talented enough to get lost immediately after reaching the hillside.”

“That makes sense.”

According to the document Yurika was carrying, their destination was about an hour down the winding mountain path. But following the attached map, Yurika and the others didn’t reach their destination until two hours after setting out.

“Yurika, I won’t get angry, so just answer honestly…”

“What?”

“You got lost, didn’t you?”

“O-O-Of course not! We made it, didn’t we?!”

“…I don’t know…”

“L-Look, we have to get these petals!”

The area they’d reached was full of short trees bearing pure white petals. It gave it the stunning effect of a snowy field.

“Maki-san, are these the petals that we need?”

“Yes. These petals, or rather the leaves of this plant, are used as a catalyst for the rejuvenation spell. Its called”

“Rubustori?” Elfaria interjected.

“You know of it?” Maki’s eyes opened wide. She hadn’t imagined that Elfaria would know the name of the plant.

“Yes. They grow in the Mastir territory as well.”

“These exist… in Forthorthe too…?”

“There’s a traditional tea brewed with these leaves.”

The Rubustori tree was once believed to be extinct in Forthorthe. That was up until twenty years ago when a single surviving tree was discovered. Now they were cultivated throughout the land. And since Rubustori tea was what the legendary princess Alaia drank, it was a very popular species.

“They work as a catalyst because of their medicinal properties, so drinking it as tea makes sense, but… this is a surprise.”

“Yes… I’m surprised too.”

Maki looked out over the area where the Rubustori trees were growing. Seeing Elfaria among them, Maki felt like she had some special connection to them.

“Is something the matter, Elfaria-san?”

“No, nothing in particular.” Elfaria shook her head with a smile. “It just feels a little mysterious. This has helped me realize that Folsaria really is a land of Forthorthe’s descendants…”

Sariachal Castle and its surroundings were forcibly separated from Forthorthe long ago. There were no records of Rubustori trees being planted in that area, so someone living there must done it afterward. As Maxfern’s group consisted of magicians and alchemists, it seemed a likely possibility that one of them might have held on to the seeds of a plant with such medicinal qualities.

“I see… So these petals are from our true home…”

These weren’t trees that had sprouted by chance. They had been brought here from Forthorthe. Maki could clearly feel that.

“True home?”

“That is what we call Forthorthe.”

“…Maki-san, do the people of Folsaria wish to return to Forthorthe?”

True home. Those sounded like the words of a homesick people. Those who had found themselves in Folsaria certainly must have wished to return home, but did those feelings hold true even now? That was what Elfaria really wanted to know.

“There are many that feel that way. But at the same time, there are many more who think

of this place as their home. I believe it would be safe to say that while they wish to return home, they are home.”

The Magical Kingdom of Folsaria was small and it was a harsh environment to live in. Some of that was alleviated through the use of magic, so magical ability and wealth greatly impacted the citizens’ lifestyles. There were plenty of people who wanted to escape that kind of life. The conflicts were never-ending. That was how Maki had felt, so she was certain of it.

However, it had already been centuries since the founding of Folsaria, and it was true that the citizens considered this place their home. It might be inhospitable, but it was hard to leave behind.

“Then we must make plans for both ways to work,” said Elfaria.

Some wanted to return to their true home. Some didn’t. Some wanted to go elsewhere and see what there was to see. Each citizen had come their own conclusion. Elfaria wanted a way to grant all of those wishes. She wanted to take responsibility for where they found themselves now.

“…I appreciate your consideration.”

Seeing Elfaria like this reaffirmed for Maki that this must be the true nature of an empress. She compulsively bowed her head.

“Heehee… Maki-san, I heard that you were an evil magical girl, but you don’t look like one at all.”

“Huh…?”

“I can’t help feeling like you’re the magician Caris that appears in the legend of the Blue Knight.”

The female magician in the legend of the Blue Knight was a subordinate of Grevanas, but she changed her ways after meeting the Blue Knight and Alaia. Ultimately she became one of the heroes who saved the country. Caris was loved by the citizens of Forthorthe even now. And to Elfaria, Maki looked just like her.

“Your words are wasted on me.”

Maki couldn’t forget the things she’d done. She believed a time would come when she would have to face her sins. But even so, she was truly happy to hear Elfaria’s kind words. She felt like she was being forgiven.

“Your path may be steep one, but it is not”

“Kyaaaaah!”

“Are you okay, Yurika?!”

“Owowow… I-I’m okay, but I can’t get out of here by myself.”

“Hang on. I’ll call for Maki and Theia-mama!”

“Heehee, and over there is another magician that reminds me of Caris.”

“…Sadly.”

“Heeheehee…”

“Pffft.”

Before they knew it, the serious tone of their conversation vanished into thin air. Maki and Elfaria laughed with each other before heading to the hole Yurika had fallen in to help pull her out.

The plan was for the girls to use their abilities to complement each other in order to achieve their goal. Hypothetically, if the magical girls’ rejuvenation spell worked like Western medicine in that it would specifically target healing the body, then Sanae’s psychic powers were like Eastern medicine, designed to bring out Elfaria’s inner vitality. The techniques would work with each other, rather than interfering with each other.

“Okay, let’s see who of the three of us can last the longest,” said Sanae.

“I’m not good with heat…” whined Yurika.

“I actually might be fine with it,” said Maki.

“Don’t force yourself, okay, Theia-mama?”

“Heehee, despite how I look, I have a pretty good constitution.”

Sanae had taken the group to a bathhouse along the major road. After using the sauna and a hot bath to stimulate circulation, Sanae was going to give Elfaria her psychic massage and pour spiritual energy into her. Doing so should invigorate her.

“Do you hate losing as much as Theia does, Theia-mama?”

“I just keep going until I win.”

“Okay, challenge accepted! Onward march to the sauna!”

As they entered, the air heated to nearly a hundred degrees quickly warmed up their bodies.

“This isn’t so bad. I think I can handle this…” sighed Yurika.

“Elfaria-san, are there saunas in Forthorthe too?” asked Maki.

“There are. The only real difference is that you pour oil from herbs on the fire instead.”

“The first one to get out has to buy the others coffee milk!” Sanae shouted playfully.

At the season slowly turned to autumn, the temperature in the evenings was steadily dropping. The girls had all gotten chilly as they walked to the bathhouse, so the sauna felt pleasantly warm at first. However, that composure didn’t last for long. Within a minute, they were all warmed to the core and beginning to sweat. But it only went downhill from there.

“…I-It’s so warm… Staying in here any longer is impossible…”

“You can leave, you know. You’ll just have to buy the rest of us coffee milk.”

“…That’s impossible too…”

“Then hold it in a little longer, Yurika. You’re an archwizard of Rainbow Heart, aren’t you?”

“…Maki-chan, being an archwizard doesn’t make a difference at a time like this…”

“My, my… Heehee.”

“…Y-You still look fine, Elfaria-san…”

“Compared to you, anyone would look fine…” Sanae looked at Yurika skeptically.

“I have a good poker face thanks to my line of work,” Elfaria explained.

Yurika was already starting to break. Sanae was also getting hot, but she’d likely last a while longer. Maki was capable of enduring quite a lot, so she didn’t seem much different than normal. But Elfaria was even less fazed than she was. Apart from sweating, she looked like her usual self.

“…U-Um, do I really have to buy coffee milk…?”

“Of course you do. That’s the kind of game this is.”

“…Can’t we compromise? Would you take one of my side dishes at dinner instead…?”

“That would depend on the dinner… Hmm…”

“I recall Kiriha-san mentioning that she would make sukiyaki or stir-fried vegetables today, and with Elfaria-san visiting, she’ll probably make sukiyaki,” said Maki.

“Then I’ll accept your conditions if you take the spring onion and I get the meat.”

“Th-That’s just too cruel! Anything but that!”

“Well, you’re going to have to endure something. Either the sweat, paying for coffee milk, or going without meat.”

“What an ultimatum. Good luck, Yurika-san,” said Elfaria.

“Okay…”

Yurika was practically on the verge of giving up, but she put up an unexpectedly good fight despite her complaints. She held out for almost ten minutes, although she still gave up in the end. Ultimately unable to stand the heat or the thought of going without meat, she decided she’d rather buy the coffee milk.

After getting out of the sauna, the four ladies washed up in the showers before heading to the large bath. The water was lukewarm, but it felt just right after coming out of the hot sauna. In fact, it was almost the ideal temperature for soaking and chatting.

“Hhhnngh… The coffee milk…”

“Just give up. You lost.”

“You did put up a good fight, Yurika.”

Of course, unable to take the heat, Yurika had been the first one to leave the sauna. Following her was Sanae, who didn’t do well with sitting still. Next was Maki, but if anything, she gave up the win out of concern for Elfaria. Elfaria was the last to leave the sauna, and she played it cool even as she got out. She’d told the girls she had a good poker face, but this was taking it to the next level.

“You’re as gutsy as Theia, Theia-mama!”

“Isn’t it the other way? Theia-chan takes after her mother.” “Heehee, I do indeed think Theia inherited my spirit.”

At the mention of Theia, Elfaria’s mood changed. As a parent, she couldn’t help but dote on her daughter. She smiled like an affectionate parent, but the very next moment, her smile clouded over ever so slightly.

“Although… I think that might make things even harder for her. She always puts up a good fight even when things get tough, but that just makes things tougher on her.”

If Theia had been a little weaker, Elfaria might not have sent her to Earth to protect her from the military. But as things had worked out, she was able to send her off because Theia was strong, both mentally and physically. Of course, that wasn’t all. Their relationship played a big part in it as well.

“To be honest, I wanted to let her do as she pleased like a normal girl… I always regretted that she couldn’t.”

Theia’s station and her strength of character both caused her misfortune. It created a distance between the princess and her mother. If things had been different—if Theia had depended on her mother like a normal child—surely they would have been closer.

“It’s okay. Theia has made a lot of friends here. Like us, or the drama club she’s been helping today,” said Sanae.

“And Ruth-san is with her too,” added Yurika.

“When it’s just us, Theia-san can say some pretty childish things. She’s probably not as unhappy as you may think, Elfaria-san.” Maki spoke up too.

“…Thank you, girls.” Elfaria smiled as she wiped away her eyes.

Seeing her like that, the other three were reminded of how beautiful she was. It wasn’t just her appearance. Her overflowing sweetness and light was what made her so beautiful. It was to the point that they were envious of Theia for having such a mother.

“I’m jealous of Theia. Maybe I should get my mama to dote on me more too.”

“My mom isn’t that beautiful. And she’s lazy. But… I want to see her again…”

“A mother, huh?”

Each of them spoke in a slightly lower voice as their expressions clouded over. Elfaria took in the sight. When Sanae was a ghost, she had been unable to see her parents. Ever since Yurika met Nana, she had been living away from home. Being an orphan, Maki didn’t even know what her parents looked like. Elfaria realized that all three girls had very special feelings about their families.

In particular, Maki-san and Yurika-san are…

Gripped by a strong urge, Elfaria wrapped an arm each around the nearby Yurika and Maki and embraced them.

“H-Huh?”

“Elfaria-san…?”

Both Yurika and Maki were puzzled by the situation. They weren’t sure what was going through her head, but being held like this by Elfaria made them feel at ease. Even Maki,

who had never known the warmth of a parent, began to understand what having a mother was like.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Nothing at all, heehee…”

With her arms around Yurika and Maki, Elfaria giggled. There was certainly a reason for what she was currently doing, but the meaning might be lost if she tried to explain it. Some things are just better left unsaid.

“It’s nothing, but… do you mind if I do this to you two from time to time?”

“I, uh… N-No…”

“I don’t really mind… Rather the opposite…”

And so Elfaria’s feelings were conveyed to Yurika and Maki, as well as the real reason for not explaining herself. In kind, the two girls timidly reached out and embraced Elfaria back. It was a sign of how they felt for her right now.

“Eheheh… You’re so cool it’s unfair, Theia-mama. I’m gonna get my mama to dote on me later…”

Only Sanae was left out. However, she understood why, so she didn’t complain in the slightest. She couldn’t help feeling that she’d do anything for Elfaria’s sake when she was like this. As Sanae’s goodwill bubbled up, her spiritual energy steadily increased.

With Sanae, Yurika, and Maki all especially motivated, the rejuvenation spell and the psychic restoration both proved extremely effective considering they hadn’t used a sacrifice. Their combined efforts had achieved results close to the limit of what was possible using their methods. Elfaria was visibly rejuvenated by a few years.

“This is looking good! You’d pass for a twenty year old!”

“We did it! We did it, Elfaria-san!”

“A huge success!”

The girls stood around Elfaria and rejoiced at their success. And it wasn’t just the normally energetic Sanae and Yurika, either. Even Maki, who was normally more subdued, had her emotions on full display. To the three of them, Elfaria was no longer just a friend’s mother.

“So this is what I was like before…”

Elfaria was also surprised. The tone and luster of her skin were considerably improved. While it wasn’t quite the complexion of a teenager, she could easily pass for being in her early twenties. But the change wasn’t only skin-deep. There was a core transformation that affected both her entire body as well as her mind. Her movements were sharper than before. Even her organs should be functioning better. Yurika and Maki’s magic had cured the ailing parts of her body, and Sanae’s psychic massage had stimulated her vigor.

“You certainly don’t look like you have a teenage child, Theia-mama!”

“Thank you, Sanae-san. And you girls too, Maki-san and Yurika-san.”

“If we temporarily seal your memories, it’s even possible to return your mental age to how

young your body is now.”

“But then I would forget about you. I would never think anything like this was possible.”

“All right then.”

“Wow, you’re even more beautiful now that you’re younger!”

The biggest change of all was the impression Elfaria gave off. Elfaria had always been beautiful, but this was different. Her vitality from within was making her glow. Her beauty had gotten more aggressive, and she now had an air about her similar to Theia’s.

“Of course, she’ll be uglier when it wears off.”

“There’s always a balance to take into account. I was a little worried about that.”

“It looks like we have nothing to fear. Although, her clothes might not suit her anymore…”

“Heehee, it certainly feels that way.”

Elfaria laughed as she looked down at herself. Since she now gave off a much more active impression, her adult clothes didn’t quite match her image. Theia’s clothes would certainly be better, or perhaps the special clothes she had hidden in her closet.

“All right, it’s time for the final touches! Everyone, let’s coordinate an outfit for Theia- mama!”

“Yeah!”

Sanae, Yurika, and Maki were going to see this makeover through to the end.

“Let’s go, Elfaria-san.”

“Hurry, hurry, before everyone gets back home.”

“My, my, you girls…”

The three of them pushed Elfaria through the gate leading to the Blue Knight. It was getting late and the residents of room 106 would be back soon, so they needed to finish up quickly.

Returning home from his part-time job, an unusual voice greeted Koutarou.

“Welcome back, Layous-sama.”

It was Elfaria’s voice coming from the inner room. As he had only just gotten inside the front door, he still couldn’t see her. But even without seeing her, he had known her long enough to distinguish her voice with ease.

“Elle? Did you come to visit?”

“Yes, it’s been a while since I saw your face.”

Koutarou took off his shoes and walked towards the inner room the same way he always did. However, his eyes shot open wide when he saw what was inside.

“E-Elle?!”

“Yes, Layous-sama. It’s been a while.”

Elfaria was all alone in the inner room. She was sitting on a pillow by the tea table. It was a common enough sight in the room, but Koutarou was sure he must be dreaming. Elfaria’s appearance was far different from the last time he saw her. She looked almost like she did when Koutarou first met her twenty years in the past.

“Wh-What’s with that look?!”

Koutarou was confused. He even tried pinching his own cheek. After making sure that he wasn’t actually dreaming, he carefully looked her over. He thought she might be using some special makeup or some kind of trick, but that didn’t seem to be the case. In fact, it couldn’t be. Even the outline of her face and her profile looked younger. The same was true for her figure. Elfaria had unmistakably gotten younger. That impression was made even stronger as she was wearing the same outfit she had in the past. The only thing Koutarou could think was that she must have walked right out of one of his memories.

“Actually, Yurika-san, Maki-san, and Sanae-san rejuvenated me.”

Elfaria glanced at the wardrobe behind Koutarou. The three girls were hiding in there and quietly watching Koutarou and Elfaria. As a form of consideration, they wanted to let the two of them be alone.

“Rejuvenated you? You mean with magic and psychic powers?!”

“Yes. That said, it apparently isn’t perfect and the effect will lessen over time.”

Elfaria smiled, a little embarrassed, as she explained the reality of the situation. Perhaps she was just starting to feel how she looked, but the emotions of a younger Elfaria were coming flooding back. She thought to herself that this was how she felt with Koutarou back then. Those were feelings she never wanted to forget.

“Besides, I’m not exactly like I was back then. Don’t I look a little older?”

“Stupid. Small details like that are totally lost on a guy. Don’t treat me like one of you girls.”

Strictly speaking, Elfaria’s physical age was somewhat older now than she had first met Koutarou. But to a man like Koutarou, that was practically a technicality. If she had the same overall impression, he felt like she was the same. That set him apart in how he saw her.

“Oh, you’re calling me a girl?”

“It’s just a saying. Jeez… You always interpret things in your favor.”

“What can I say? It’s a girl thing, heehee…”

Elfaria narrowed her eyes and flashed a lovely smile. It was indeed the smile of a girl, or at least a girl at heart. Somewhat embarrassed, Koutarou turned away. The way he was acting made Elfaria feel a little mischievous.

“So, Layous-sama, what would you say was different about me?”

“U-Um, well…”

When asked that question, Koutarou had no choice but to look at Elfaria again. She gave him the same smile she had twenty years ago.

“I mean… Y-You’re just as beautiful as before, so it’s that bright and energetic side. Also… I feel nostalgic when I look at you.”

“Me too.”

Elfaria held the hem of her skirt and spun around in place. No matter what angle he looked at her from, she looked just like he remembered.

“…”

After finishing her spin and facing Koutarou again, she found him silently staring at her. But for some reason, the somewhat embarrassed, nostalgic feelings from before seemed to be gone. Instead, he looked at her wistfully.

“What’s the matter, Layous-sama?” she asked curiously.

“Hm? Ah, it’s nothing.”

“That’s not what your face says. Why don’t you tell me what it is?”

“And here I thought I was being nice keeping my mouth shut.”

“I want to hear it. You only ever badmouth the people you truly cannot forgive, and those who are especially close to you, Layous-sama.”

“I guess I don’t have a choice…”

Koutarou gave in to Elfaria’s smile. He held his head as he decided to tell her the truth. And all the while, he was really mostly thinking that he was no match for her.

“I think you give off a bright, energetic aura now.”

“And you feel badly about that?”

“Close, but no cigar. Since you’ve gotten brighter and more energetic, you… Well…”

“Well, what?”

“Well… your usual warm and gentle aura is gone.”

Really, that part of Elfaria hadn’t changed at all. It was just her change in appearance that had altered Koutarou’s impression of her. It saddened him a little.

“Warm… and gentle…?”

“Th-That’s all!”

Now embarrassed again, Koutarou turned his back to Elfaria once more. Admitting that he missed Elfaria’s warmth and gentleness was almost like a confession. It was an awkward situation for a teenage boy.

“Layous-sama…”

Only she had aged. That had always bothered her. But now, Koutarou’s words made her realize that getting older wasn’t all bad. Even he could see the good side to it.

“Then the next time I’m rejuvenated, I’ll make sure I don’t become this young.”

“…Do whatever you like.”

“Oh, I will.”

And just like that, Elfaria stopped worrying about it. Not just for her sake, but for Koutarou’s as well.

Besides, when I’m like this, I’m too young to embrace those girls…

And most of all, it was for the sake of the three girls still hiding in the wardrobe.

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